3 February 2022

"Good morning Suman!" Shouted Anshuman who was sitting on his desk as he saw Suman enter the office. Suman and Anshuman had been partners since she joined the Newzz. They were in the team of sting operations always in disguise on missions.

"Good morning Anshuman! How is my big sister treating you?" Suman asked wiggling her eyebrows at the poor guy who was suffering at hands of a pregnant Ashiya, his wife. Anshuman was a senior in college to Ashiya, Suman's elder sister. Anshuman left his corporate job to become a journalist and thus Suman and Anshuman together gave interviews at Newzz. They were made partners ever since joining.

"Don't ask Yaar , Suman! Your sister have made me her midnight bawarchi. Instead of sleeping I've to prepare midnight snacks for her. I don't know how I will manage another five months."

"I pity you my poor jiju!"

"Laugh all you want to. I'll also laugh at Aditya when your time will come." Aditya was Suman's six months boyfriend but they rarely go on dates or meet anyway because of Suman's hectic schedules and Aditya's business trips. Suman doubts him as he had 7 trips in six months of their dating.

"Hmm! Jiju I worry that's not gonna happen because I'm going to break up with him as soon as he comes from his eighth trip of these six months of our relation." She said sadly but there was no hurt in her eyes.

"Oh!! What happened? You guys were fine as far as I knew."

"No! Jiju! How many times you saw us together? I can count on one hand."

"That's true!"

"Suman! Anurag sir have called you to his cabin." Anurag Saxena was the head of Crime investigation department at Newzz. So him calling for her its a sign.

"Jiju! New mission! " Suman said excited but Anshuman's face fell.

"I'm afraid I won't join."

"Why?"

"Go first. I'll tell you later."

"Okay!"

Good morning sir!" Suman looked at the man sitting in front of her. Anurag Saxena was a strict man and friends with the owner of Newzz Mr Ramnath Malhotra. So everyone was either scared or appeasing towards him.

"Good morning Suman! I'm sending you on an assignment. You're one of my best but this one is risky actually very risky." Anurag Saxena had got a lead about a high profile case of domestic violence and mental harassment. Commissioner was contacted in the case by Mr Malhotra because one thing if he despised with heart and soul was domestic violence especially on men. Everyone talks about domestic violence on women but what about men. His brother died of such an incident at hands of Kamini Shekhawat so he tried his best to save men and women from domestic violence. But they needed strong evidence.

"No issues sir! I'll do my best."

" Here is the file. Its a very high profile case and public faith is involved in here so be careful. Plan before you leave for the assignment. "

"Sure sir! "

"Go ahead and be safe. Take Anshuman with you. Its his last mission before leave."

"Leave?"

"He didn't tell you. He has asked for paternity leave. And you know how Malhotra sir is about men's rights so he has been giving leave till his wife's delivery."

"Okay!"

"Don't worry you'll have another partner after this mission."

"Yes sir!"

Anshuman and Suman took three days to plan their conduct at the house of MLA Shanti Devi. Shanti Devi was the daughter of a very popular spiritual Guru who became MLA when her husband withdrew from politics due to health issues. Health issues? He had been seen at the hospital only twice in last two years since he put a foot back. According to the lead they have gotten Shanti Devi had mentally and physically harassed her husband to withdraw and give her the political position in the party. According to plan, Suman was going to join them as the new cook at their house and Anshuman as the driver of Shanti Devi. How will they get the position? Because the loyal servants of Shastri ji , Shanti Devi's husband are going to fake ill and send their family member as replacement. Cliché idea but Shanti Devi had taken it in. They join today. 6 February.

Suman was in the kitchen when she saw and recorded Shastri ji's hand being burned for burning Shanti Devi's saree by mistake.

Anshuman recorded how Shanti Devi demeaned her husband making live in the servants quarter and insults him.

Morning of 7 February

Police raided the Shanti villa and Shanti Devi was arrested on charges of domestic violence, mental harassment and corruption. Shastri ji was taken to hospital for treatment and therapy. Anshuman and Suman took the quiet route out of the house but the people angry on Shanti Devi's arrest somehow found them to be behind them and they were attacked.

Afternoon of  7 February, 2022

"Suman! Run!"

Anshuman shouted and both of them started running like death stricken dogs. Dogs, they were not. But death stricken, they were. Five men carrying hockeys and two with guns were running behind them.

They have been running from the posh areas of civil lines to these slum like areas. Its been two hours of them running and no help they got with Autos and taxis on strike today.

Anshuman was holding Suman's hands and they were running in the squeezy streets of a very crowdy slum like area on a sweaty afternoon when Suman's hand slipped out of his and they ran in two different directions.

Now Suman was running alone and suddenly a gunshot was heard Suman got stunned. She stopped screeching almost losing her balance and was almost caught when a hand pulled her towards him. Before she could breath and realize who that person was she felt electric current passing through her arm.

That person kept holding her hand and dragging her with him as ran faster than her. After the initial shock of gunshot she noticed the person in yellow. For a second he turned and she saw a 6feet 6 inches pikachu running holding her hand current kept passing through her. They kept running suddenly she realized she hadn't seen Anshuman for long.

"Anshuman!"

"My brother took him with him and Run faster."

Another gunshot was heard but from a distance this time. And sirens of police were heard nearby. A police jeep pulled up on the road as they reached out of those streets and the pikachu took her inside the police jeep. They were saved. After a few minutes another jeep joined them alongside and the pikachu said

"There your partner is" and she saw Anshuman breathing heavily. The constable gave them water and thanked them for collecting evidence.
But neither of them replied.

The jeep dropped them at Anshuman's house. And Pikachu with his brother Winnie the pooh went away with police.

Evening of 8 February, 2022

"Who saved you Suman?" Ashiya asked after listening to the story of Anshuman and her sister.

"I don't know." Suman replied and Anshuman agreed

"Even I don't know. He just told me his brother is saving my partner." Anshuman told

"They didn't even know our name I guess. Random saviours?" Suman looked at her sister saying so.

"I don't think so. How come two police jeeps came to rescue? What were they doing wearing such costumes in slums?" Anshuman said

"You would have at least caught the face." Ashiya said irritated at her sister and husband

"No" they both said

"Was that a he or she? At least you know that much." Ashiya asked gritting her teeth

"He! For sure. Because of his sturdy strong and rough hands." Suman said

"A Winnie the pooh was wearing gloves but his voice was manly."

"How could you not catch his face? He saved your life." Now Ashiya was angry and Anshuman ran to get her some delightful snacks.

"Because he was a Pikachu." Suman said.

"What?"

"Yes! He was a 6feet 6 inches tall pikachu. Though I'm  guessing 2 inches were his ears. But he could be a pikachu because I felt electric currents running through as he was holding my hands but when he left the current also went away."

Anshuman who was back with some gulabjamuns and Ashiya looked at each other and gave a meaningful look to Suman.

Night of 8 February 2022

"Hey! Darling! I've been trying to call you but you were not reachable."
Aditya said as he picked up the call.

"Aditya!"

"What happened Suman? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay but we're not. Lets end it here."

"Uhh! Actually thank you. I didn't know how to do this. I didn't want to hurt you. My engagement has been fixed with my father's friends daughter an alliance I couldn't refuse and you yourself ended it. Thanks. Let's stay friends at least."

"Sure. Bye! And Congratulations!"

"Goodnight Suman!"

Midnight of 9 February 2022

Two men were having their hot chocolate with their sister as she made fun of them.

"How cute this bandar was looking in a Winnie the pooh costume!" She said and giggled

"Atleast I looked cute bhaiya looked pathetic. More than six feet of pikachu? You should have given him some other suit."

"None other than that one fit him."

"Bhaiya!" Both his brother and sister called as they noticed he was not participating in their conversation.

"Hah!"

"Where are you lost bhaiya?" She asked her elder brother.

"In thoughts of her." His brother said with a teasing look.

"Which girl?" And that was how Vidhi got to know the events of afternoon.

"But you both were at my toy store doing the promotions then how did you reach there to save that girl and her partner."

"Ram uncle called us." Said Pushkar

"Ohh! So bhaiya you are lost in thoughts of that girl. What is her name?" She asked

"I don't know. But she was strong. " Shravan replied still lost.

"I hope you meet her again and fall for her because she deserves to be my Bhabhi after being the only girl since your birth to catch your attention."

And his young brother and sister laughed, while he kept looking at the moon. He could see the glimpses of the girl in rugged salwar kameez, her messy and fake unkempt hair in all trying to look like an unattractive woman but those doe eyes with fear in them and beautiful smile she gave to the constable could not be hidden.

Morning of 9 February 2022

"Congratulations!" Anurag Saxena told to Suman

"Thank you sir! "

"Anshuman is on leave from now on and your new partner joins you today. I would like you to start working on the report. "

"Yes sir!"

"Ohh! Here he is." Suman saw a six feet four inches tall man entering the cabin by bending at the door.

"Shravan Malhotra, she is your partner Suman Tiwari." Shravan could not believe his eyes as he heard Vidhi's words in background

"I hope you meet her again and fall for her because she deserves to be my Bhabhi after being the only girl since your birth to catch your attention."

"Suman, meet Shravan. He'll replace Anshuman in your team."

"Hello!" She said and forwarded her hands

"Hi!" He took her hand and she felt the current pass through her while just one word left her mouth.

"Pikachu"

Love
Zindagi